Flywheel mounting assembly for an exercise bicycle

ABSTRACT

A flywheel mounting assembly for an exercise bicycle has a flywheel, a housing, at least one bearing, a holder and a hub. The housing defines a mounting space and an inner surface. The at least one bearing is mounted in the mounting space of the housing. The holder is tubular, has a mounting hole, an end rotatably mounted in the at least one bearing and an end extending through and being mounted securely with the flywheel. The hub is mounted securely in the mounting hole of the holder and has an axle extending through a center of the hub. Accordingly, weight and rotation of the flywheel is supported by the housing and stress is equally sustained by the housing, bearing, holder and hub. Therefore, deformation or distortion may be effectively prevented for smooth and stable flywheel rotation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a flywheel mounting assembly, and more particularly to a flywheel mounting assembly for an exercise bicycle and that reduces stress and deformation caused thereby to ensure the flywheel operates smoothly and stably.

2. Description of Related Art

Exercise bicycles are widely used in gyms or health clubs for stationary exercise by pedaling. A conventional exercise bicycle comprises a frame, a magnet assembly and a flywheel. The magnet assembly is mounted in the frame and is usually an electromagnet. The flywheel is made of metal or any material that can be attracted by the magnet assembly, is rotatably mounted on the frame and is connected to and driven by two pedals.

Normally, the flywheel is mounted on the frame of the exercise bike via an axle mounted through the flywheel and on the frame. In such arrangement, since the flywheel is heavy, the axle sustains a stress that may make the axle bend after long-term use.

Furthermore, deformation or distortion of a frame of the exercise bicycle or flywheel and magnet assembly may also occur due to the stress and interfere with rotation of the flywheel.

The present invention therefore provides a flywheel mounting assembly for exercise bicycle to obviate or mitigate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a flywheel mounting assembly for an exercise bicycle that stably mounts a flywheel on an exercise bicycle and effectively prevents deformation or distortion of an axle or a frame of the exercise bicycle.

To achieve the objective, the flywheel mounting assembly for an exercise bicycle in accordance with present invention comprises a flywheel, a housing, at least one bearing, a holder and a hub.

The flywheel is diamagnetic, is mounted in a frame of the exercise bicycle and is connected to and driven by two pedals.

The housing is mounted securely in the frame of an exercise bicycle and defines a mounting space and an inner surface.

The at least one bearing is mounted in the mounting space of the housing and tightly abuts the inner surface.

The holder is tubular, has a mounting hole, an end rotatably mounted in the bearing in the mounting space of the housing and an end extending through and mounted securely with the flywheel.

The hub is mounted securely in the mounting hole of the holder and has an axle extending through a center of the hub and pivotally mounted in the frame of the exercise bicycle.

Accordingly, weight and rotation of the flywheel is supported by the housing and stress is equally sustained by the housing, bearing, holder and the hub. Therefore, deformation or distortion may be effectively prevented.

Otherwise, with closely contact between the housing, bearing and holder, operation of the flywheel is smooth and stable.

Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a flywheel mounting assembly in accordance with the present invention mounted in an exercise bicycle;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the flywheel mounting assembly mounted in the exercise bicycle in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the flywheel mounting assembly in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a side view in partial section of the flywheel mounting assembly in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exercise bicycle has a frame (10), a fork (11), two pedals, a magnet assembly (13) and two mounting panels (12).

The frame (10) has a rear end. The fork (11) is mounted securely in the rear of the frame (10). The pedals are separately mounted rotatably in the frame (10). The magnet assembly (13) is mounted adjacent to the fork (11) and has an adjustable magnetic strength. The adjustable magnetic strength may be attained by varying current to fixed electromagnets, varying a location or number of permanent magnets or other such techniques well known in the art. The mounting panels (12) are oppositely mounted in the fork (11), each mounting panel (12) has a dropout (121) formed therein. One mounting panel (12) further has multiple fixing holes (122) formed through the mounting panel (12) and each fixing hole (122) has a fixing element (123) mounted therein.

With further reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the flywheel mounting assembly for exercise bicycle in accordance with present invention comprises a flywheel (30), a housing (21), at least one bearing (23), a holder (22) and a hub (24).

The flywheel (30) is diamagnetic, and may be: metal or metal alloy, such as iron, steel or the like; composite or the like; and is magnetically attracted by the magnet assembly (13) and has a drive side, a non-drive side, a central hole (31), a countersink (32) formed around the central hole (31) in the non-drive side and multiple securing holes (33) formed in the countersink (32) around the central hole (31).

The housing (21) has an axle hole (212), multiple threaded holes (214) formed around the axle hole (212) and an annular wall (213) defining a mounting space and an inner surface. The threaded holes (214) correspond respectively to the fixing holes (122) of the mounting panel (12) and are secured by the fixing element (123).

The at least one bearing (23) is mounted in the mounting space of the housing (21) and tightly abut the inner surface of the annular wall of the housing (21).

The holder (22) is tubular, is mounted securely to the flywheel (30) and has a mounting hole (221), an inner surface, an outer surface, an inner collar (222), an outer collar (225), a mounting end (226), an extending end and multiple fasteners (228).

The inner collar (222) is radially formed on and protrudes from the inner surface of the holder (22) and has multiple through holes (223) formed around the inner collar (222).

The outer collar (225) is radially formed on and protrudes from the outer surface of the holder (22), corresponds to and is mounted in the countersink (32) of the flywheel (30) and has multiple bore holes (227) formed around the outer collar (225) and corresponding to the securing holes (33) of the flywheel (30).

The mounting end (226) of the holder (22) is rotatably mounted in the at least one bearing (23) in the mounting space of the housing (21) so that the holder (22) can rotate relative to the housing (21).

The extending end extends through the central hole (31) of the flywheel (30).

The fasteners (228) are mounted through the bore holes (227) of the outer collar (225) and secured in the securing holes (33) of the flywheel (30) to mount the holder (22) securely on the flywheel (30).

The hub (24) is mounted securely in the mounting hole (221) of the holder (22) and has a shell (240), an axle (25), multiple fasteners (243) and a gear (26).

The shell (240) has two sides and two flanges (241). The flanges (241) are radially formed on and protrude from the sides of the shell (240), correspond to and are mounted in the mounting hole (221) of the holder (22). The flange (241) corresponding to the non-drive side of the flywheel (30) has multiple screw holes (242) formed around the flange (241) and corresponding respectively to the through holes (223) of the inner collar (222).

The axle (25) extends through the shell (240) and protrudes respectively from the sides of the shell (240), extends through the axle hole (212) of the housing (21) and is rotatably mounted in the dropouts (121) of the mounting panels (12).

The fasteners (243) are mounted through the through holes (223) of the inner collar (222) and secured in the screw holes (242) of the flange (241) to mount the shell (240) securely in the mounting hole (221) of the holder (22).

The gear (26) is mounted around the axle (25) on the drive side of the flywheel (30) adjacent to one side of the shell (240) and connected to the pedals of the exercise bicycle via a chain. Therefore, the pedals may drive the shell (240) of the hub (24) and the holder (22) to rotate relative to the housing (21).

Accordingly, the weight of the flywheel (30) is supported by the housing (21) and stress caused by weight and rotation is equally sustained by the housing (21), the at least one bearing (23), the holder (22) and the hub (24). Therefore, deformation or distortion occurring in the axle (25) is effectively prevented.

Otherwise, with close contact between the housing (21), the at least one bearing (23) and the holder (22), operation of the flywheel (30) is smooth and stable.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only. Changes may be made in detail especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A flywheel mounting assembly for an exercise bicycle comprising a flywheel being diamagnetic; a housing having an axle hole; and an annular wall defining a mounting space and an inner surface; at least one bearing being mounted in the mounting space of the housing and tightly abutting the inner surface of the annular wall of the housing; a holder being tubular, being mounted securely to the flywheel and having a mounting hole; an inner surface; an outer surface; and a mounting end being mounted rotatable in the at least one bearing in the mounting space of the housing; and a hub being mounted securely in the mounting hole of the holder and having a shell having two sides; and an axle extending through the shell and protruding respectively from the sides of the shell and extending through the axle hole of the housing.
 2. The flywheel mounting assembly for an exercise bicycle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flywheel further has a drive side; a non-drive side; a central hole; a countersink formed around the central hole in the non-drive side; and multiple securing holes formed in the countersink and surrounding the central hole; and the holder further has an outer collar being radially formed on and protruding from the outer surface of the holder and being mounted in the countersink of the flywheel and having multiple bore holes being formed around the outer collar and corresponding to the securing holes of the flywheel; and an extending end extending through the central hole of the flywheel; and multiple fasteners are mounted through the bore holes of the outer collar and secured in the securing holes of the flywheel to mount the holder securely on the flywheel.
 3. The flywheel mounting assembly for an exercise bicycle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the holder further has an inner collar being radially formed on and protruding from the inner surface of the holder and having multiple through holes formed around the inner collar; the shell of the hub further has two flanges being radially formed on and protruding from the sides of the shell, corresponding to and being mounted in the mounting hole of the holder, one of the flanges corresponding to the non-drive side of the flywheel, having multiple screw holes formed around the flange and corresponding respectively to the through holes of the inner collar of the holder; and multiple fasteners are mounted through the through holes of the inner collar and secured in the screw holes of the flange to mount the shell securely in the mounting hole of the holder.
 4. The flywheel mounting assembly for an exercise bicycle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing further has multiple threaded holes formed around the axle hole.
 5. The flywheel mounting assembly for an exercise bicycle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the flywheel is metal.
 6. The flywheel mounting assembly for an exercise bicycle as claimed in claim 5, wherein the hub further has a gear being mounted around the axle on the drive side of the flywheel, adjacent to one side of the shell. 